Joseph Montoya

Joseph Montoya (24 September 1915-5 June 1978) was the Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico (D) from 1 January 1947 to 1 January 1951 (succeeding James B. Jones and preceding Tibo Chavez) and from 1 January 1955 to 9 April 1957 (succeeding Ed Mead and preceding Tibo Chavez), a member of the US House of Representatives from New Mexico's at-large congressional district from 9 April 1957 to 3 November 1964 (succeeding Antonio M. Fernandez and preceding Johnny Walker), and as the US Senator from New Mexico from 4 November 1964 to 3 January 1977 (succeeding Edwin L. Mechem and preceding Harrison Schmitt).

Biography
Joseph Montoya was born in Pena Blanca, New Mexico in 1915, and he was elected to the State House of Representatives in 1936 at the young age of 21. In 1940, he was elected to the State Senate, and he served as Lieutenant Governor from 1947 to 1951 and from 1955 to 1957. From 1957 to 1964, he served in the US House of Representatives, when he was elected to the US Senate. He was a strong advocate of education measures, the protection of wilderness areas, Medicare, Medicaid, bilingual training for healthcare workers, and the elimination of unsanitary conditions in the meat packing industry. He left office in 1977, and he died in 1978.